We love to ogle the rich. We watch them in movies and on TV, transfixed by various displays of wealth and power, unable to restrain the thought of what we'd do with all that money.

This national wealth watch has become something of a spectator sport with media listings that treat people's riches like batting averages.

The new Forbes magazine dedicated to the richest people in America is just the latest example of making lots of noise over big bucks.

It's like passing a traffic accident, you just have to see what's going on with these rich folk - even though we know this fixation with the celebrity lifestyle doesn't get us any closer to Nirvana.

I found a few interesting items in the Forbes coverage, however. Take the article on Chuck Feeney, described as "the James Bond of philanthropy."

"Over the last 30 years, he's crisscrossed the globe conducting a clandestine operation to give away a $7.5 billion fortune derived from hawking cognac, perfume and cigarettes in his empire of duty-free shops. His foundation, the Atlantic Philanthropies, has funneled $6.2 billion into education, science, health care, aging and civil rights in the U.S., Australia, Vietnam, Bermuda, South Africa and Ireland," noted author Steven Bertoni.

"Few living people have given away more, and no one at his wealth level has ever given their fortune away so completely during their lifetime," Bertoni stated in the article.

Many of those listed among the world's wealthiest are big-time benefactors, of course. Bill and Melinda Gates (worth $66 billion), have given away $28 billion to date and plan to do a lot more.

You can't scan the Forbes 400 list without coming up with some nuggets. For example:

No. 16 on the list are members of the Mars family, Forrest Jr., Jacqueline and John (worth $17 billion). These are the owners of the world's largest candy company (that employs 70,000 people in 73 countries). Snickers was supposedly the name of the family's favorite horse, by the way.

Tim Maiers, spokesman for the Springfield-based Illinois Pork Producers Association, said he's had calls about reports of an impending bacon shortage.

"A British pig group issued the story. Hog supplies are going to be down next year but I don't think we'll see a shortage," he said.

What triggered the uproar was a drought that drove grain prices even higher for U.S. pork producers, already dealing with spiraling corn and soybean costs.

"We've seen a 71 percent increase in production costs since 2006 while pork prices have gone down," said Maiers, adding that 60 percent of raising a hog involves the feed.

Steve Tarter is Journal Star business editor. Tarter's phone number is 686-3260, and his email address is starter@pjstar.com. Follow his blog, Minding Business, on pjstar.com and follow him on Twitter @SteveTarter